" But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose." (Nathaniel 140)
Summary: The Scarlet Letter takes place in Boston, Massachusetts during the seventeenth century. Hester Prynne, has had an affair and has given birth to a baby girl, Pearl, with a man that is not her husband. Hester will not tell anyone who Pearl's father really is. When Hester is found guilty of this indecent act, she is publicly humiliated. As a punishment for her sin, Hester must stand on a scaffold and recieve the insults of the people for three whole hours. Also, she must wear the letter "A" across her chest for the rest of her life as a sign of sin and shame. When Hester approaches the scaffold she sees as the other woman are infuriated with her beauty and quiet dignity. When the public demands the knowledge of the father of her baby, Hester refuses and says nothing.
Hester was sent to Massachusetts to meet her husband, Roger Chillingworth. Her husband however, never made it there, and was assumed lost at sea. However, as Hester stood about the scaffold, she noticed a man standing amongst the crowd. This man was watching her as she was being humiliated and tortured. The man, was her husband. Her husband asked another man in the crowd why the "woman" was up there, the man replied and informed him of his wifes adultery. Roger was furious and insisted that the father of the baby should also be punished for he also helped her to be unfaithful. Roger wanted nothing more than pure revenge. When Hester was in her jail cell, Roger came to see her. Roger insisted that she tell him who Pearl's father really was. when she didn't, he told her that if she told anyone that he was her real husband, he would destroy Pearl's father. Hester agreed to Roger's terms even though she felt she may soon regret it.
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and his friend John Wilson were introduced to Hester at the scaffold. They begged and pleaded for Hester to say whom the father was, for he deserved to suffer just as she was. Ironically, it turned out that Arthur Dimmesdale was the father of the baby and he and Hester knew it. Roger Chillingworth who was a physician, moved in with Reverend Dimmesdale because Dimmesdale was growing ill. While living with Dimmesdale, he grew suspicious that Dimmesdale was the father of Pearl and began to seek revenge on him by hurting him more than curing him of his illness. But this was only a suspicion until one night, Chillingworth opened Dimmesdale’s shirt while he was sleeping and discovered a scarlet "A" on Dimmesdale’s Chest. So, Chillingworth continued to torture Dimmesdale.
When Hester and Pearl were released from jail, Pearl was just a young girl. She began to notice the "A" across her chest as a constant reminder of her sin. Hester told Dimmesdale that Roger was her real husband and that he wanted to get revenge on her. They decided to run away together on a ship on election day. A while later, Chillingworth died, and not long after, Dimmesdale did too. Dimmesdale left Pearl a lot of money. Hester and Pearl moved to england where Pearl was looked at as a wise woman and one whom people ran to for advice. She continued to wear the Scarlet letter there.
This novel was one of a kind. Procrastination is an amazing thing isn't it? Well, most would think not, and usually, I would too. But this time, it was a different, much better, story. When I was told I had to read an entire book and write an entire "blog" about it, I just about wanted to gag. I completely dreaded the assignment. Seriously, Who really wants to read a book that 1, they have no choice in reading, and 2, they had to enjoy? Chances are, no one. But as I scampered through the library trying to find a book, pacing as I watched the time grow closer and closer to fourth hour, my heart began to race, my palms were sweating, and my legs, trembling. I could not come upon a book that I wanted to read, not for the life of me. As the bell rang and all of my classmates poured out of the computer lab, i immediately grabbed the first book I saw. I rushed to the check out desk, and happily smiled at our librarian and checked out my book. Having no clue as to what i was about to read and get myself into.
This was the hardest and most complex novel I have ever read. However, it was also the most amazing book I've ever read. I have never read a book so detailed. The literature was amazing. "Pearl was decked out with airy gayety. It would have been impossible to guess that this bright and sunny apparition owed its existence to the shape of gloomy gray; or that a fancy, at once so gorgeous and so delicate..." (Nathanial 158)
The story line was incredibly different from any other, and there was so much hidden beneath the surface. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote incredibly throughout this book. He wrote so well that I couldn't put it down. Need I remind you that I'm not one who reads much? The Scarlet Letter was an incredible story about, love and courage. But you wouldn't have known that if you had just read the first 23 chapters. The morale of the story wasn't "Be faithful, or you'll go to jail and die." Like I expected it to be. What I interpreted it to be was, "even the most terrible, and unforgivable mistakes can be the greatest, and most idolizing." I give this book 5 stars, two thumbs up, and a nobel prize, hands down! I usually hate books, and I usually dread reading the difficult ones. But this book, as hard as it was, was the greatest challenge I to endure. I enjoyed the entire book, and I enjoyed the challenge. In a matter of three days, I was able to read this book and happily finish it. Well Ms. Werner, you got your wish. I read a book I had no choice in reading, and you know what? Ienjoyed it!
I would recommend this book to.. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in reading a very hard, well written, difficult story. This book is hard to understand and very confusing. But if you are patient enough to read parts more than once, you'll be able to read this book. This book wasn't written for any specific reader. This is the type of novel that either people will pick up and love, or they'll want to throw it at a wall after reading the first few sentences. If this book sparks your interests, check it out. It's entirely up you.
About the Author:
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was born into a Puritan family in Salem, Massachusetts. After graduation Bowdoin College in 1825, Hawthorne turned to writing; his best-known early work, Twice Told Tales, was published in 1837.
Between periods of public service, Hawthorne practiced his craft. In 1845, already established as an author, he accepted a position in the customhouse in Salem, but his party was soon voted out of power and returned to writing. The result was The Scarlet Letter, published in April, 1850. This was followed by The House of Seven Gables, set in his native Salem, and The Blithedale Romance, a fictionalized account of life at the Transcendentalists' commune, Brook Farm.
Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, N.H. on a trip to the mountains with his friend Franklin Pierce. After his death, Sophia Hawthorne edited and published his notebooks. Modern editions of these works include many of the sections which she cut out or altered. The author's son Julian was convicted in 1912 of defrauding the public.
Cited Information:
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850.
The Scarlet Letter: By Nathanial Hawthorne
Summary:
The Scarlet Letter takes place in Boston, Massachusetts during the seventeenth century. Hester Prynne, has had an affair and has given birth to a baby girl, Pearl, with a man that is not her husband. Hester will not tell anyone who Pearl's father really is. When Hester is found guilty of this indecent act, she is publicly humiliated. As a punishment for her sin, Hester must stand on a scaffold and recieve the insults of the people for three whole hours. Also, she must wear the letter "A" across her chest for the rest of her life as a sign of sin and shame. When Hester approaches the scaffold she sees as the other woman are infuriated with her beauty and quiet dignity. When the public demands the knowledge of the father of her baby, Hester refuses and says nothing.
Hester was sent to Massachusetts to meet her husband, Roger Chillingworth. Her husband however, never made it there, and was assumed lost at sea. However, as Hester stood about the scaffold, she noticed a man standing amongst the crowd. This man was watching her as she was being humiliated and tortured. The man, was her husband. Her husband asked another man in the crowd why the "woman" was up there, the man replied and informed him of his wifes adultery. Roger was furious and insisted that the father of the baby should also be punished for he also helped her to be unfaithful. Roger wanted nothing more than pure revenge. When Hester was in her jail cell, Roger came to see her. Roger insisted that she tell him who Pearl's father really was. when she didn't, he told her that if she told anyone that he was her real husband, he would destroy Pearl's father. Hester agreed to Roger's terms even though she felt she may soon regret it.
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and his friend John Wilson were introduced to Hester at the scaffold. They begged and pleaded for Hester to say whom the father was, for he deserved to suffer just as she was. Ironically, it turned out that Arthur Dimmesdale was the father of the baby and he and Hester knew it. Roger Chillingworth who was a physician, moved in with Reverend Dimmesdale because Dimmesdale was growing ill. While living with Dimmesdale, he grew suspicious that Dimmesdale was the father of Pearl and began to seek revenge on him by hurting him more than curing him of his illness. But this was only a suspicion until one night, Chillingworth opened Dimmesdale’s shirt while he was sleeping and discovered a scarlet "A" on Dimmesdale’s Chest. So, Chillingworth continued to torture Dimmesdale.
When Hester and Pearl were released from jail, Pearl was just a young girl. She began to notice the "A" across her chest as a constant reminder of her sin. Hester told Dimmesdale that Roger was her real husband and that he wanted to get revenge on her. They decided to run away together on a ship on election day. A while later, Chillingworth died, and not long after, Dimmesdale did too. Dimmesdale left Pearl a lot of money. Hester and Pearl moved to england where Pearl was looked at as a wise woman and one whom people ran to for advice. She continued to wear the Scarlet letter there.
This novel was one of a kind.
Procrastination is an amazing thing isn't it? Well, most would think not, and usually, I would too. But this time, it was a different, much better, story. When I was told I had to read an entire book and write an entire "blog" about it, I just about wanted to gag. I completely dreaded the assignment. Seriously, Who really wants to read a book that 1, they have no choice in reading, and 2, they had to enjoy? Chances are, no one. But as I scampered through the library trying to find a book, pacing as I watched the time grow closer and closer to fourth hour, my heart began to race, my palms were sweating, and my legs, trembling. I could not come upon a book that I wanted to read, not for the life of me. As the bell rang and all of my classmates poured out of the computer lab, i immediately grabbed the first book I saw. I rushed to the check out desk, and happily smiled at our librarian and checked out my book. Having no clue as to what i was about to read and get myself into.
This was the hardest and most complex novel I have ever read. However, it was also the most amazing book I've ever read. I have never read a book so detailed. The literature was amazing. "Pearl was decked out with airy gayety. It would have been impossible to guess that this bright and sunny apparition owed its existence to the shape of gloomy gray; or that a fancy, at once so gorgeous and so delicate..." (Nathanial 158)
The story line was incredibly different from any other, and there was so much hidden beneath the surface. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote incredibly throughout this book. He wrote so well that I couldn't put it down. Need I remind you that I'm not one who reads much? The Scarlet Letter was an incredible story about, love and courage. But you wouldn't have known that if you had just read the first 23 chapters. The morale of the story wasn't "Be faithful, or you'll go to jail and die." Like I expected it to be. What I interpreted it to be was, "even the most terrible, and unforgivable mistakes can be the greatest, and most idolizing." I give this book 5 stars, two thumbs up, and a nobel prize, hands down! I usually hate books, and I usually dread reading the difficult ones. But this book, as hard as it was, was the greatest challenge I to endure. I enjoyed the entire book, and I enjoyed the challenge. In a matter of three days, I was able to read this book and happily finish it. Well Ms. Werner, you got your wish. I read a book I had no choice in reading, and you know what? I enjoyed it!
I would recommend this book to..
I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in reading a very hard, well written, difficult story. This book is hard to understand and very confusing. But if you are patient enough to read parts more than once, you'll be able to read this book. This book wasn't written for any specific reader. This is the type of novel that either people will pick up and love, or they'll want to throw it at a wall after reading the first few sentences. If this book sparks your interests, check it out. It's entirely up you.
About the Author:
Between periods of public service, Hawthorne practiced his craft. In 1845, already established as an author, he accepted a position in the customhouse in Salem, but his party was soon voted out of power and returned to writing. The result was The Scarlet Letter, published in April, 1850. This was followed by The House of Seven Gables, set in his native Salem, and The Blithedale Romance, a fictionalized account of life at the Transcendentalists' commune, Brook Farm.
Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, N.H. on a trip to the mountains with his friend Franklin Pierce. After his death, Sophia Hawthorne edited and published his notebooks. Modern editions of these works include many of the sections which she cut out or altered. The author's son Julian was convicted in 1912 of defrauding the public.
Cited Information:
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850.
"C.D. Merriman." Jalic Inc. 2007. Online Literature
< http://www.online-literature.com/hawthorne/ >